Microsoft is reportedly working on a project that will give its users more control over their personal data.
According to a report in ZDNet, the project, code named "Bali" and currently in the testing phase, would give users the ability to control data collected about them.
"The 'personal data bank' project is a Microsoft Research incubation effort and seems to be in private testing at this stage," said the report on Thursday. The test feature was spotted by a Twitter user who goes by the name "Longhorn" who described "Bali" as "a project that can delete all your connections and account information (inverse privacy project)".
"Inverse Privacy" was the subject of a paper authored in 2014 by Yuri Gurevich, Efim Hudis and Jeannette Wing, who all worked for Microsoft Research at that time, claimed the report.
Microsoft is yet to comment on the report.
There is a page for Bali where early testers can enter a code to access the project and people without a code can request one, the report added.
The "About" page describes the project as a "new personal data bank, which puts users in control of all data collected about them... The bank will enable users to store all data (raw and inferred) generated by them. It will allow the user to visualise, manage, control, share and monetise the data".
Microsoft’s apparent commitment to keep user data safe has been publicly stated by the company and its CEO, Satya Nadella multiple times in 2018. He reiterated that the company is determined to ensure the safety of consumers' data and is building secure solutions towards preserving data privacy.
It is the job of the tech industry to build customers' trust in technology, he said, while opening this year’s Build 2018 developer event. Microsoft claims to heavily rely on its artificial intelligence (AI) technology to prevent user data mishaps.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)